Government & Political Science
Students of the four-year BSc Government and Political Science will be the political and business leaders of tomorrow and a vital part of the generation that shapes the 21st century. Studying political science provides you with many choices when you graduate.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate entry requirements
At Least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish. Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Other Language O6/H7
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme LCVP
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
The excellent transferable skills acquired in the BSc Government and Political Science open up many career paths. Our graduates work in different fields, including:
Public service (home and abroad)
Civil service (home and abroad)
International organisations
National parliaments and local government
Political parties
Public affairs
Lobbying
Journalism
Television
Voluntary sector
Further information
September 2026
Approximate Available Places 5
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 50
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Students of the four-year BSc Government and Political Science will be the political and business leaders of tomorrow and a vital part of the generation that shapes the 21st century.
This is one of an exciting new generation of UCC degrees, combining political science with a range of other subjects in business, law, modern languages, social sciences and information technology. It also offers a work placement in Year 3, including a prestigious internship in the New York State Legislature as well as other highly prized placements in international and national institutions.
Now more than ever the study of government and politics is crucial. Politics affects everyone. Aristotle called politics the master science for a reason – he understood that through politics, the future of the world is shaped.
Political science is the study of governments, public policies and political processes, systems and political behaviour. There is no single reason to study politics. You may have an interest in the workings of government or some questions about the civic nature of our society. Or some event – either domestic or international – may arouse your interest, making you want to know more than you can learn through television or newspapers.
Studying politics means studying the real world and developing the skills to make sense of that world. A degree in political science is not geared to any particular type of job. It will prepare you for many forms of employment or further study. You will gain analytical and practical skills, invaluable in today’s competitive employment market. Political science graduates are recognised as flexible people who can fit into a variety of positions in modern life.
A degree in political science will equip you for all sorts of careers: political activity, management, retail, banking, government departments, local government and international organisations. Political science graduates work in the media and for pressure groups, become consultants and go on to lecturing and research posts at universities.
Studying political science provides you with many choices when you graduate.
Year 1 Modules
Core Modules:
GV1202 Politics of the European Union (5 credits)
GV1204 Democracy, Ideology and Utopia (5 credits)
GV1207 Politics and Government of Ireland (5 credits)
GV1215 Local Government and Politics of Ireland (5 credits)
GV1216 Analytical Thinking Skills in Political Science (5 credits)
GV1217 Introduction to Political Science (5 credits)
GV1218 International Politics (5 credits)
LW1316 Public Law (5 credits)
MG1010 Public and Private Management (5 credits)
SS1302 Social Policy Analysis (5 credits)
Elective Modules (choose 10 credits):
AC1100 Introduction to Accounting (5 credits)
CH1001 Chinese Language (Mandarin) I (10 credits)
EC1203 Macroeconomic Context and Business (5 credits)
FE1024 Introduction to Development Economics (5 credits)
FE1400 Local Development and Public Health (5 credits)
FR0105 Introduction to French (5 credits)
FR1005 French for Near Beginners (5 credits)
FR1105 Threshold French (5 credits)
FR1107 French for Reading Purposes I (5 credits)
GA1002 Ceart na Gaeilge idir Scríobh agus Labhairt (10 credits)
GE0003 German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 1 (5 credits)
plus GE0004 German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 2 (5 credits)
GE0005 German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1) (5 credits)
GE0008 German Language (CEFR-Level A2.2) (5 credits)
HS0028 Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (10 credits)
HS0128 Spanish Language (Improver Level) (10 credits)
IS1106 Introduction to Information Systems (5 credits)
IS1107 Information Systems for the Networked Enterprise (5 credits)
IT1102 Non-Beginners' Written and Spoken Italian (10 credits)
IT1109 Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian (10 credits)
MG1004 Principles of Management and Organization (5 credits)
Dr Aodh Quinlivan
a.quinlivan@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 3368
https://www.ucc.ie/en/government-and-politics/
government@ucc.ie